Anhydrous monophenylphosphinates of manganese(II), Mn[H(C₆H₅)PO₂]₂ (Form I, Form II and Form 1(B)) and cadmium(II), Cd[H(C₆H₅)PO₂]₂ (Form I and Form II) were synthesized and characterized by solubility tests, Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC), Infrared Spectroscopy, X-ray Powder Diffractometry, Electron Spin Resonance (ESR) spectroscopy, magnetic susceptibility measurements and Electron Spectroscopy for Chemical Analysis (ESCA). These materials are considered to be polymeric with metal ions connected in chains by double bridging phosphinate groups with cross-linkage forming sheets and octahedral metal centers. Magnetic susceptibility studies showed that Mn[H(C₆H₅)PO₂]₂ (Form I) exhibits relatively strong antiferromagnetic exchange interactions (J is about -4.50 cm⁻¹) and the effects on this magnetic exchange of doping diamagnetic cadmium ions into the material have been investigated. A series of mixed metal phosphinates of the form Mn₁₋x Cdx [H(C₆H₅)PO₂]₂ (Form I) where x=0 to 1.00 were prepared and investigated. The effect of doping with cadmium is to break the infinite manganese(II) monophenylphosphinate chain into finite segments and to generate monomer impurities in odd numbered segments. As the extent of doping is increased the average chain length decreases and the fraction of monomer increases. In addition, the exchange coupling constant, J, was found to decrease (from -4.50 to -2.70 cm⁻¹) as the average chain length decreases. Mn[H(C₆H₅)PO₂]₂ (Form 1(B)), which is precipitated from concentrated solutions, contains much shorter chain fragments than the pure Form I material. Mn[H(C₆H₅)PO₂]₂ (Form II) has a distinct infrared spectrum and X-ray powder diffraction pattern and shows much weaker antiferromagnetic behavior (J is about -2.40 cm⁻¹) than the Form I compound. Magnetic studies suggest that in this compound the average chain length is significantly smaller than in Mn[H(C₆H₅)PO₂]₂ (Form I). The hydrated monophenylphosphinates of manganese(II), Mn[H(C₆H₅)PO₂]₂•H₂0 and Mn[H(C₆H₅)PO₂]₂•2H₂0, were synthesized and characterized in this work. The structures of these compounds are considered to be similar to those of the anhydrous materials except in the hydrated compounds one or two of the metal coordination sites are occupied by water molecules. The dihydrate shows only very weak antiferromagnetic properties (J is about -0.50 cm⁻¹). The diphenylphosphinates of manganese(II) and cadmium(II) were also prepared and characterized. The infrared spectra and X-ray powder diffraction patterns for these materials are distinct from each other,which indicates the compounds are not isomorphous. Only rather weak magnetic exchange was observed in the manganese compound. Zn[H(C₆H₅)PO₂]₂ has also been synthesized and partially characterized in this work. The infrared spectrum and X-ray powder diffraction pattern obtained for this compound are unique among all the metal phosphinates studied in this work. / Science, Faculty of / Chemistry, Department of / Graduate